adminThere are approximately 1.3 million people in Pennsylvania who have no insurance. Many of them visit community health care clinics that provide primary care services regardless of their ability to pay while others avoid medical care altogether.
A new law will provide funding to expand these clinics and improve access to care.
The Community-Based Health Care Act (Act 10, formerly Senate Bill 5) signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett on May 21, 2013, provides grants to community-based health care clinics to:
- Expand and improve health care access and services, such as preventive care, chronic care and disease management, obstetrical and newborn care, dental treatment, behavioral health, and pharmacy services
- Reduce unnecessary utilization of hospital emergency services by providing an effective alternative health care delivery system
- Encourage collaborative relationships among community-based health care clinics, hospitals, and other health care providers
It is anticipated that funding for this program will be allocated in the final state budget.
“The Pennsylvania Medical Society has long advocated for programs that improve access to care for the people of Pennsylvania,” said Scot Chadwick, vice president of governmental affairs at PAMED. “Our hope is that with adequate funding this program can make a meaningful contribution to that effort.”